Re: “Proposal for WA’s largest renewable vitality challenge reveals challenges for the longer term” [Nov. 4, Environment]:
The controversy surrounding the Horse Heaven Clear Vitality Middle challenge underscores the necessity for a collaborative strategy that attracts on tribal and environmental experience and gives clear advantages to native communities.
Persevering with down the present “business-as-usual” path to scrub vitality siting attracts extra controversy, stalled initiatives, and inexorable impacts on the atmosphere, cultural assets, and communities.
Thankfully, there are new assets out there that may assist. Washington State College’s complete Least Battle Photo voltaic Siting examine and the state Division of Ecology’s upcoming Programmatic Environmental Influence Statements for photo voltaic and onshore wind supply landscape-scale analyzes that may inform good siting selections early within the planning course of.
Audubon’s analysis reveals that local weather change is the largest menace to birds. We’re staunch supporters of the clear vitality transition and are dedicated to offering suggestions to builders and allowing authorities to information the event of unpolluted vitality initiatives that reduce the affect on birds and wildlife. Together with tribal engagement, builders can construct initiatives that keep away from, reduce, and mitigate impacts to pure and cultural assets.
We encourage policymakers to make use of the assets out there to them to advance the event of unpolluted vitality within the state whereas adopting options that respect tribal, environmental and neighborhood values.
Trina Bayard, Ph.D., Director of Chicken Conservation and Interim Govt Director, Audubon Washington